Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Instant New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller
Goodreads Choice Award Winner: Best Debut + Best Romance (2019)
Best Book of the Year — Vogue, NPR, Vanity Fair, and more

The vibe

Sharp, swoony, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with big feelings, bigger stakes, and a glittery political backdrop that turns one scandal into international chaos.

What it’s about (spoiler-light)

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the President’s son—handsome, brilliant, and basically the White House’s millennial dream mascot. There’s just one issue: he can’t stand Prince Henry of Wales.

When a very public Alex/Henry incident hits the tabloids, it’s suddenly not just embarrassing—it’s a diplomatic problem. So the handlers do what handlers do best: they push the two “rivals” into a staged, camera-ready truce.

Except the fake, Instagrammable friendship starts to feel…real. And then it gets complicated. And then it gets dangerous—because falling for a prince isn’t exactly campaign-friendly, and the wrong leak could blow up more than a reputation.

What starts as damage control turns into a secret romance that forces both Alex and Henry to ask: who are we when the world is watching—and what’s worth risking to live out loud?

Tropes & hooks

• Enemies-to-lovers (with peak banter)
• Fake friendship / PR relationship
• Secret romance
• Celebrity/political spotlight pressure
• Queer self-discovery + found confidence

Perfect for readers of:

• Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
• The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
• Anyone who wants rom-com sparkle with real emotional payoff